The System is Sick, More than the Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus is forcing us to see that the very economic structure of America itself is in ill health. We know more poor Americans are dying, they can’t work from home and stay safe. All of us depend on the jobs they do: produce and factory workers, farmers, people who take care of our rubbish, retail, and food service employees. Too often many of us see poverty as an aberration, with poor people blamed for their condition. The reality is that it is part of our very structure. Our guest Reverend Liz Theoharis co-chair with Rev William Barber of the Poor Peoples Campaign cites the pandemic of inequality for the greater death rates. The stimulus packages recently passed do nothing to address the availability of health care. Hospitals are privatized as the poor suffer and die while the rich and their political allies circle the ruins, seeing opportunities to further enhance their power. We are not powerless. There is an online rally for on June 20th.